UCBH Holdings, Inc. CEO Thomas S. Wu Named in Forbes Asia Magazine's "Twenty-Five Notable Chinese-Americans"

UCBH Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UCBH), the holding company of United Commercial Bank (UCB™), announced that its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas S. Wu was named one of "Twenty-Five Notable Chinese-Americans” in the September 15, 2008 issue of Forbes Asia Magazine. The inaugural list featured noteworthy executives, bankers and entrepreneurs born in Greater China – Mainland China, Taiwan or Hong Kong – for their significant economic success and exceptional industry leadership.

Mr. Wu is recognized for his visionary leadership in the financial community. He has carved out a niche in serving Chinese communities across the United States and American companies doing business in Greater China. Through acquisitions and a focus on international trade finance, Mr. Wu transformed the Company into $12.87 billion in assets as of June 30, 2008 with more than 70 branches and offices in the U.S. and in Greater China.

In 2007, Mr. Wu led the Company in the acquisition of Shanghai-based Business Development Bank Ltd., making UCB the first U.S. bank to acquire 100% of a foreign-owned bank in China. Now operating as United Commercial Bank (China) Limited, the acquisition provides a platform from which additional banking services could be offered to its U.S. customers doing business in Mainland China, as well as tap into China’s market potentials for trade finance opportunities.

Also in 2007, Mr. Wu spearheaded UCBH’s strategic alliance with Beijing-based China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd., becoming the only Chinese-focused bank in the U.S. with a financial and strategic link to a leading banking institution in China. The partnership broadens its access to new markets and, more importantly, provides capital to fund its expansion.

"I am extremely honored to be included in Forbes Asia’s list of notable Chinese-Americans,” said Thomas S. Wu, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This acknowledgement must be shared with the entire Company as a testament to our hard work in serving Chinese communities in the U.S. We look forward to expanding our unique franchise to seamlessly serve our customers doing business between the U.S. and Greater China.”

Mr. Wu also received the American Banker 2007 Community Banker of the Year Award in the Builder category for his demonstrated success in building a community bank franchise. In addition, Mr. Wu received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 National Award in honor of his demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in the Financial Services category.

About UCBH Holdings, Inc.

UCBH Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for United Commercial Bank, a state-chartered commercial bank, which is a leading bank in the United States serving the Chinese communities and American companies doing business in Greater China. Together, the Bank and its subsidiaries, including United Commercial Bank (China) Limited, operate 51 California branches/offices located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Stockton, Los Angeles and Orange counties, eight branches in New York, five branches in metropolitan Atlanta, three branches in New England, two branches in the Pacific Northwest, a branch in Houston, branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shantou, China, and representative offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China, and Taipei, Taiwan. UCB, with headquarters in San Francisco, provides commercial banking services to small- and medium-sized businesses and professionals in a variety of industries, as well as consumer and private client services to individuals. The Bank offers a full range of lending activities, including commercial real estate and construction loans, commercial credit facilities, international trade finance, asset-based financing, cash management, loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, commercial, multifamily and residential mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and online banking services for businesses and consumers. For additional information, visit the web site for United Commercial Bank at www.ibankUNITED.com or the web site for UCBH Holdings, Inc. at www.ucbh.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based upon specific assumptions that may or may not prove correct. Forward-looking statements are also subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the Company’s and the Bank’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict, and many of which are beyond the control of the Company and the Bank. The factors include, among others: economic and business conditions in the areas and markets in which the Company and the Bank operate, particularly those affecting loans secured by real estate; deterioration or improvement in the ability of the Bank’s borrowers to pay their debts to the Bank; market fluctuations such as those affecting interest and foreign exchange rates and the value of securities in which the Bank invests; competition from other financial institutions, whether banks, investment banks, insurance companies or others; the ability of the Bank to assimilate acquisitions, enter new markets and lines of business, and open new branches, successfully; changes in business strategies; changes in tax law and governmental regulation of financial institutions; demographic changes; and other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC”). The foregoing may cause the actual results and performance of the Company and the Bank to be materially different from the results and performance indicated or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Further description of the risks and uncertainties are included in detail in the Company’s current, quarterly and annual reports, as filed with the SEC.